Sociology Major: Standard Program

Program Requirements

All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.

A minimum of 39 credits is required including:

SOC 101Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)3
SOC 225Self and Society3
SOC 302Origins of Sociological Theory3
SOC 310Qualitative Research Methods3
SOC 380Social Class, Status, and Power3
SOC 498Capstone3
One of the following:3
Statistics and Data Analysis
Quantitative Research Methods
Select six of the following (minimum 18 credits):18
INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS
Psychopathology
Environmental Sociology
Social Problems
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Criminology
Contemporary Sociological Theory
Sociology of Families
Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
Social Movements
Law Enforcement
Deviance
Juvenile Delinquency
Drugs and Society
Corrections
Ethnicity, Race, and Racism
Gender, Sexuality, and Power
Special Topics
Internship in Sociology
Independent Study
Total Credits39

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Sociology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: SOC 498 CAPSTONE or SOC 492 Independent Study , or SOC 399 Internship in Sociology (Criminal Justice Emphasis) with instructor approval.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits13
Spring
SOC 225 Self and Society 3
MATH 113 Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
SOC 211 Quantitative Research Methods 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
MINOR Minor of Interest 3
SOC 168
Social Problems (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Sociology of Families
or Cultural Studies
or Social Movements
or Deviance
or Juvenile Delinquency
or Drugs and Society
or Special Topics
or INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS
3
 Credits16
Spring
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
MINOR Minor of Interest 3
SOC 150
Environmental Sociology (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Criminology
or Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
or Special Topics
or INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS
6
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
Minor should be declared by the beginning of third year.
SOC 302 Origins of Sociological Theory 3
SOC 380 Social Class, Status, and Power 3
MINOR Minor Course 3
SOC 168
Social Problems (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Sociology of Families
or Cultural Studies
or Social Movements
or Deviance
or Juvenile Delinquency
or Drugs and Society
or Special Topics
or INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS
6
 Credits15
Spring
SOC 310 Qualitative Research Methods 3
MINOR Minor Course 3
Elective Elective 6
SOC 150
Environmental Sociology (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Criminology
or Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
or Special Topics
or INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS
3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
MINOR Minor Course 3
Elective Elective 9
SOC 168
Social Problems (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Sociology of Families
or Cultural Studies
or Social Movements
or Deviance
or Juvenile Delinquency
or Drugs and Society
or Special Topics
or INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS
3
 Credits15
Spring
SOC 498 Capstone 3
MINOR Minor Course 3
Elective Elective 9
 Credits15
 Total Credits120